The Utah Jazz (10-17) and Denver Nuggets (20-7) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 9:00 p.m. ET from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The game will broadcast live on KJZZ.
The Nuggets are 13.5-point favorites over the Jazz on the spread (Nuggets -13.5), with the over/under set at 248.5 total points. Denver is a -950 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Utah is +575 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Jazz vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks for Monday, December 22.
Jazz vs Nuggets Prediction, Picks
- Jazz vs Nuggets pick: Jazz First Half Moneyline (+575)
My Jazz vs Nuggets best bet is on Utah to win the first half, with the best price currently available at bet365. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Jazz vs Nuggets Odds
| Jazz Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+13.5 -115 | 248.5 -110o / -110u | +575 |
| Nuggets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-13.5 -105 | 248.5 -110o / -110u | -950 |
Jazz vs Nuggets NBA Preview
The NBA system "First Half 'Dog vs. Coasting Teams" system focuses on NBA first-half moneyline opportunities where strong teams often start slow against inferior opponents.
During the regular season, underdogs with modest Pythagorean ratings face elite teams with strong win records that may be pacing themselves or conserving energy early in games, which could be the case for the Jazz in tonight's matchup against the Nuggets.
These matchups frequently occur when the superior team is in cruise control, relying on second-half adjustments rather than urgency in the opening quarters.
Meanwhile, the underdog typically plays with higher early intensity and effort, creating value in short-term situations before the talent disparity takes over.
By isolating first halves against top competition, this system leverages motivational imbalance and situational focus to identify profitable early-game edges.
Overall, the system stands at 777-1,318-75 (37%) with an 8% ROI across all-time results. This season, it’s off to a 25-29-3 (46%) start, producing a 20% ROI.
So, let's take the Jazz on the first half moneyline on Monday night.
Jazz vs Nuggets Betting Prediction
- Jazz First Half Moneyline (+575)
Spread
No play here.
Moneyline
My Nuggets vs Jazz betting prediction is on Utah first half moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm staying away from the total in this game.
